Board Meeting Minutes
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Approved Minutes Board Meeting of June 1, 2021 The Board Meeting, which was held June 1, 2021 at East Bay Regional Park District, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605 called its Closed Session to order at 11:00 a.m. by Board President Dee Rosario. ROLL CALL Directors Present: Dee Rosario, President Colin Coffey, Vice President Dennis Waespi, Secretary Beverly Lane, Treasurer Ayn Wieskamp Elizabeth Echols Ellen Corbett Directors Absent: None. The Open Session of the Board Meeting was called to order at 1:43 p.m. by President Rosario. Staff Present: Sabrina Landreth, Carol Victor, Ana Alvarez, Debra Auker, Anthony Ciaburro, Jim O’Connor, Carol Johnson, Kristina Kelchner, Erich Pfuehler, Aileen Thiele, Alan Love, Lisa Goorjian, Brian Holt, Glenn Gilchrist, Robert Kennedy, Devan Reiff, Eric Bowman, Juliana Schirmer, Katy Hornbeck, Matthew Graul, Mary Mattingly, Kevin Damstra, Ira Bletz, Matthew James, Oliver Hinojosa (PrimeGov) Guests: Jay Watson, Student Conservation Program (SCA) PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE President Rosario asked Director Waespi to lead the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance. President Rosario acknowledged the Saklan Tribe, an indigenous tribe in Ward 2. The Saklan were the first stewards of the land and had the reputation for being resistant to the Spanish admission systems. They were pushed out of their territory, yet they are still here today and we thank them for continuing to be relevant and present. President Rosario opened the meeting and stated that consistent with Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-25-20 issued on March 12, 2020 in response to the threat of COVID-19 and the Alameda County Health Department’s Order dated March 16, 2020, the Board of Directors may utilize teleconferencing to remotely participate in meetings. Clerk of the Board announced the three ways in which the public could participate in the meeting. President Rosario asked if the Board members had any questions about the meeting process. There were none. Clerk Knight announced that beginning at the June 15, 2021 Board meeting, public comments received will not be read at the meeting. All public comments received via email, letter or voice message will be distributed to the Board of Directors and all members of the Executive team. These correspondences will continue to be included in the final copy of the filed board packet. The public is welcome to attend the meeting and speak during public comment and/or on an agenda item. A. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA By motion of Director Corbett, and seconded by Director Echols, the Board voted unanimously to approve the agenda. Directors Remote: Colin Coffey, Ellen Corbett, Elizabeth Echols, Beverly Lane, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, Ayn Wieskamp. Directors Against: None. Approved Minutes Board Meeting of June 1, 2021 Directors Absent: None. B. PUBLIC COMMENTS Kathy Gleason sent an email encouraging the District to reach a humane solution and not kill the cats. Several e-mails were received from the mountain biking community requesting the District provide equitable access to trails. E-mails were received from: Joel Shrock, Roger Serafin, Michael Solis, Andy Peterson, Charles Greenwood, Alan Enrici, Mike Udkow, Geoff Baxter, Juan Lebumfacil, Jeremy Nuger, Josh Church, Mattie Terzola, Eunice Noel-Waggoner, Daniel Van den Bergh, Marcelo Quiroz, Denise Prescott and Tania Henderson. President Rosario thanked the citizens who spoke and wrote comments. C. SPECIAL UPDATE 1. General Manager’s Update on the Status of the East Bay Regional Park District Emergency During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Reoperation Plan for 2021. General Manager Landreth acknowledged the Public Safety and Operations staff for handling a very busy Memorial Holiday weekend. Adding that this was the weekend when swimming was opened. AGM Jim O’Connor, Operations and AGM/Chief Ciaburro, Public Safety were present and reported on this weekend. As this was the first re-opening of swimming under COVID restrictions, staff reported that the reservations system worked. There will be a meeting with GM Landreth, Public Safety, Operations and Reservations for a debriefing. Chief Ciaburro reported that even though the District did not experience a high load of patrons consistent with the holiday, it was a busy weekend. Chief visited Contra Loma and Roberts and expressed how impressed he is with our lifeguards and police to ensure the safety of our patrons. Director Lane asked which swim areas were not open. O’Connor replied Temescal, Anza and Shadow Cliffs are currently closed due to the water quality and insufficient water. D. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD 1. CONSENT CALENDAR By motion of Director Corbett, and seconded by Director Echols, the consent calendar was unanimously approved. Directors For: Colin Coffey, Ellen Corbett, Elizabeth Echols, Beverly Lane, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, Ayn Wieskamp. Directors Against: None. Directors Abstain: None. a. Approval of District Check Listing for the Period of April 12, 2021 Through April 25, 2021 Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 139 (attached) Approved Minutes Board Meeting of June 1, 2021 b. Resolution of the East Bay Regional Park District Recognizing June 2021 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 140 (attached) President Rosario thanked AGM Public Affairs, Carol Johnson, for stepping forward and creating a flag and lapel pins for the Board members that incorporate the colors of Pride Month. AGM Johnson shared some of the graphics that staff is working with to create flags for the District’s parks for this month, as well as a banner and a masthead change for the website. President Rosario and each Director took turns reading aloud each Whereas of this resolution. c. Resolution to Support AB 30 (Karla D-San Jose) – Equity in Outdoor Access to Nature Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 141 (attached) d. Resolution to Support AB 564 (Gonzalez D-San Diego) – Biodiversity Protection and Restoration Act Resolution No. 2021 – 06- 142 (attached) e. Resolution to Support AB 614 (Agular-Curry D-Winters) – Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 143 (attached) f. Resolution to Support AB 1255 (Bloom D-Santa Monica) – Fire Prevention Local Assistance Grant Program Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 144 (attached) g. Resolution to Support AB 1512 (Bauer-Kahan D-Orinda) – Preservation of Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 145 (attached) h. Resolution to Support SB 624 (Hueso D-San Diego) – Environmental Equity and Outdoor Access Act Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 146 (attached) i. Authorization to Accept, Appropriate, and Transfer Funds for Oak Woodland Restoration in Parks Located Within the Wildfire Hazard Risk Reduction Program Area: Various Locations Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 147 (attached) 2. ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION By motion of Director Lane, and seconded by Director Coffey, the Board voted unanimously to approve Item 2.a. Directors Remote: Colin Coffey, Ellen Corbett, Elizabeth Echols, Beverly Lane, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, Ayn Wieskamp. Directors Against: None. Directors Absent: None. a. Adopt the Name, “Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago 50,” for the Future Regional Park at the Former Concord Naval Weapons Station: Concord Hills Regional Park Resolution No. 2021 – 06 - 148 (attached) Approved Minutes Board Meeting of June 1, 2021 By motion of Director Waespi, and seconded by Director Echols, the Board voted unanimously to approve Item 2.b. Directors Remote: Colin Coffey, Ellen Corbett, Elizabeth Echols, Beverly Lane, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, Ayn Wieskamp. Directors Against: None. Directors Absent: None. AGM Kristina Kelchner began this presentation by acknowledging the African-American sailors who served their country in the U S military during World War II and stood up to the racially discriminatory policies in the U S military at the time. Their courage along with the advocacy on their behalf by Thurgood Marshall, led to the desegregation of the military and changed the course of this country's history. This naming is historic and would be the first park in Contra Costa county to be named after an African American. The District looks forward to partnering with the National Park Service on a future visitor center where this story, along with all of the stories of the land, including the stories of the original habitants, the Chupcan people, and the community of Port Chicago whose homes were lost will be told. Kelchner commented that she appreciated the local community’s input and the tremendous amount of engagement has been wonderful. She hoped the support will continue as the District works with its partners and elected officials to raise the funding that will be needed to build the park. Brian Holt, Chief of Planning and GIS gave a very thorough and comprehensive PowerPoint presentation on how the District identified a name for the Concord Hills Regional Park. The recommendation by staff is for the Board of Directors to adopt the name, Thurgood Marshall Regional Park - Home of the Port Chicago 50. This name came from the community, staff has fully evaluated it, supported it, and embraced it. Holt gave the background of the 2,540 acres property beginning when Port Chicago Naval Magazine was established to present day. The Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial, is located within an active army base and tours are provided, but since the site is not fully accessible, reservations are required. The future park site is located on the former inland area of the Concord Naval weapons station and provides expansive views of Mount Diablo, the Diablo Valley, San Francisco and San Joaquin Delta. It will be highly accessible, include a plan for 22+ miles of new trails, 70 former munition magazines will provide great opportunities for reuse and interpretation, a former Naval building where a future visitor center is planned in partnership with the National Park Service. Holt walked the Board through the land history from 1942 to present. Holt acknowledged the relationship and work of Director Beverly Lane who worked closely with Contra Costa County, City of Concord, and Congressman George Miller to identify some potential reuse of the property.